Keeping Kids Active This Spring
Posted
by
WinterKids
on Friday, March 28, 2014
Spring is finally here! Now that we have “sprung forward,” the days are longer and there is more daylight to spend time with your family and plan some fun after-school activities with the kiddos. But what should you do with the kids? There is homework, of course. Is it better to have them start as soon as they get home or should they play first? Experts agree that it depends on the child and what works best for your family. You can always switch it up on a daily basis as well. While the kids may be happy to come home and plop down in front of TV, that does not allow for any mental or physical stimulation. We believe it’s important for kids to get real play time after school that doesn’t involve watching TV or the use of video games. Here are our thoughts:
Exercise – Whether it may be shooting hoops, hopscotch, hoola hooping or jumping rope, physical exercise is beneficial for children in so many different ways. Exercise strengthens and stretches muscles, builds strong bones, makes lungs and heart stronger, helps with reflex and coordination, decreases health risks, and helps with weight management. It also helps the mind which can improve test scores and grades and help keep kids from zoning out in class. It puts kids in a better mood by giving them more energy as well as help calming them down and allowing for better sleep at night. Try something new with the kids after school this spring and take them to the local bike/skate park or to the golf driving range. Make sure to keep an eye on them so they keep within their abilities and don’t get hurt.
 Creativity – Art is extremely imperative throughout our children’s maturity process as they are able to develop important life skills through art activities. Not only does art help develop the right side of the brain, it also allows them to pick up and fine-tune skills such as communication skills, problem-solving skills, motor skills, and self-expression and creativity. Since such skills will help them throughout their lifetime and aid in individualizing their personalities, encouraging your child to be creative and get involved in art projects is very important. Some of our favorite spring arts and craft activities include Cookie Cutter Bird Feeder, Bee Bouquet and April Shower Umbrella Mobiles.
Social –While doing activities together with the kids after school can bring you closer together as a family, it’s also fun and exciting to get together with other families and do things together as one big group. Also, if you work late and do not have time to play with your children when they are done with school for the day, putting them in an after-school program with other children is a good idea. Encouraging your kids to engage in activities with other children is beneficial in helping them develop social skills. Social skills are important for children to develop early on in life as they include our emotions, intellect, ethics, and behavior. Do you live near a public park? Get together with other parents and set up an obstacle course. Or if you have a good sized yard, you can set up a scavenger hunt and invite the neighbors over to participate. Being socially active is not only important for the kids, it’s also essential for parents as well!
Do you and your kids have a favorite spring after-school activity you’d like to share? Please do so in the comments below!
Categories:
Kids' Health
Tagged: kids, Kid-friendly activites, spring
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